Persian wife or Japanese wife (Fae in Japanese bridal gown)
Traditionally (in the old days), both in Japan and Iran, where rice is a staple of every meal, it was one of the qualifications for the new bride to know how to clean, wash and prepare this pricy ingredient so there would be no waste. In most homes, a meal is not a meal until there is rice served in the menu. As similar as these two cultures are in many ways, there is one difference when it comes to rice. In Japan, (again, in the old days) a Japanese wife’s marriage was at stake, God forbid, if she would over-cook the rice, and there would be a crust/burnt (o’ko’ge) at the bottom of the pot. Whereas in Iran, how beautifully the Persian wife brown the bottom of the rice (tah-dig) was highly praised. Not only does a Persian wife put every effort into making the perfect tah-dig, but also dishes out the tah-dig right on top of the dished out rice, to brag about it. Tah-dig is the most popular item on every lunch/dinner table and fought over.
In 1950s, several Iranian families moved to Japan for varieties of opportunities. Though my family left after 10 years, some have stayed and assimilated to the point that they have adopted Japanese citizenship. There were so few of us that we all knew each other and children grew up together. To this date, we are in touch and grown into our fourth generations. All our households had Japanese rice-cookers for when we made Japanese dishes. One of the Dads, an astute man, obviously a tah-dig lover, took his idea/invention to the largest home appliance maker in Japan. A brilliant idea of rice-cooker which can make tah-dig! Though a shocking concept to the Japanese at the beginning, very soon they saw the Yen signs!!! Since early 1960s, every Iranian household in the world has not one, but two, three or four tah-dig making rice-cookers, each housewife’s prized possessions! When cooking for dinner parties, every table must at least have two to three kinds of polos / Persian rice!!!
For my Persian rice recipes, you do not need a tah-dig making rice-cooker. My recipes use pots/pans and/or Pyrex dishes.
Fae, you look beautiful!
Thank you, Judy! It was many moons ago. I was dressed by my aunt-in-law, an artist (dressing brides, including the wig and make-up), who received a medal from Emperor Hirohito (every year, a handful of artists who perpetuate Japan’s traditional/historical art are awarded medals by the Emperor in a palace garden ceremony). I was the only foreign bride she ever dressed. I asked her if she could make me look like a Japanese girl. To this date I remember how she laughed and said, “It is not possible. You must look like yourself”. The Kanji character of her name was the word for ‘Love’.
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What a BEAUTIFUL post!
That’s awesome how it was a family friend of yours whose idea it was to make a tahdig rice cooker!
Yes, and that was 50 yrs ago! Thank you for visiting my blog. I checked out yours, and I am going to try your Mint Chutney! :b…
What a fascinating cultural glimpse into the rice-making rituals of both the Persians and the Japanese! And equally fascinating is to read an account of your own early life in Japan. Tah-chin was my first introduction to Persian cuisine and it remains my favourite to this day. And you looked beautiful in your wedding dress. Sharon
Yes, I believe women of all Asian countries have similar ‘rice’ stories.
Tah-chin has several varieties… some layer the rice with condensed ‘gheimeh-bademjan’ stew! Thanks for the compliment, I’m glad I did have the opportunity to wear such an extravagant kimono.